Strathmore University Kenya Becomes First University to adopt MSc ‘Flatpack’ curriculum from Climate Compatible Growth.  

Strathmore University, in Nairobi, Kenya has taken an innovative step to enhance its postgraduate curriculum on Climate by incorporating ready-made modelling curriculum created by Climate Compatible Growth into its existing Master’s programme.  

Vice-Chancellor, Vincent Ogutu, who met with CCG Director, Professor Mark Howells, during his recent visit to Imperial College London, confirmed Strathmore University will be the first university to officially integrate CCG modelling tools into its graduate curriculum: “We see significant potential for CCG modelling tools to generate high calibre academic research relevant to the policy challenges facing our country.”

CCG’s ‘Flatpack’ programme is designed to provide access to teaching materials on a wide range of open-source state of the art modelling tools for the climate transition. These enhance the academic curriculum by providing students with hands-on modelling skills to underpin academic research and strengthen workplace skills.

The ‘Flatpack’ programme is open to any interested university, with a particular focus on supporting curriculum enhancement in low and lower middle-income countries in the Global South. Discussions are currently underway with a further six universities across Africa and Asia, who are interested in integrating these tools into graduate teaching.

The tools selected by Strathmore academics will be integrated into the university’s MSc on Sustainable Energy Transition.  They span several areas of the energy transition including energy system capacity expansion, integration of flexible renewable energy, energy-land-water linkages, energy project finance and universal access to energy.

CCG Director, Professor Mark Howells said, “We stand ready to work with interested universities in the Global South. The Flatpack places a wealth of cutting-edge analytical tools at the disposal of the next generation of energy modellers.”

The courses incorporating the CCG tools are scheduled to be delivered and offered to students starting in the upcoming semester, which begins in September 2024. Current students are in discussion about adding the Modelling, Policy and Political Economy unit to their course. The Electricity Transition Playbook will also be considered if time allows.